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answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered question first ministerially corrected answering member label attachment file name title previous answer version answering member constituency answering member constituency answering member printed answering member printed answering member label answering member label
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1187058

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure limited social interaction in relation to appointments for new universal credit claimants since 16 March 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Wentworth and Dearne
	tabling member printed	John Healey
	uin	33408
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2020 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">As both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that no one should be penalised for doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances, we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The Department is taking all appropriate steps to protect colleagues and customers, in line with Government advice.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">DWP has always followed Public Health England guidelines on social distancing. As of 24th March, Jobcentres are only offering face-to-face appointments – conducted in accordance with PHE guidelines on social distancing - for the small number of claimants who would otherwise not be able to receive support. This helps us to continue to deliver our critical services whilst keeping our customers and staff safe.</ins></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 31/03/2020 10:07:19 question first ministerially corrected 15/04/2020 14:58:50 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies previous answer version 15508 answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	400 label Biography information for John Healey

1187061

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to provide (a) phone and (b) online appointments for new universal credit claimants.
	tabling member constituency	Wentworth and Dearne
	tabling member printed	John Healey
	uin	33410
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2020 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">As both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that no one should be penalised for doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances, we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The Department is taking all appropriate steps to protect colleagues and customers, in line with Government advice.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We have temporarily suspended the requirement for face-to-face Jobcentre Plus appointments for all claimants in Universal Credit, Job Seekers’ Allowance (JSA), Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Income Support. Advances for all new UC claimants are now available online / via phone, with no requirement to attend a job centre.</ins></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 31/03/2020 10:07:19 question first ministerially corrected 15/04/2020 14:58:26 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies previous answer version 15510 answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	400 label Biography information for John Healey

1187062

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether new universal credit claimants have been required to attend in-person appointments after a phone assessment since 16 March 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Wentworth and Dearne
	tabling member printed	John Healey
	uin	33411
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2020 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">As both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that no one should be penalised for doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances, we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The Department is taking all appropriate steps to protect colleagues and customers, in line with Government advice.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We have temporarily suspended the requirement for face-to-face Jobcentre Plus appointments for all claimants in Universal Credit, Job Seekers’ Allowance (JSA), Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Income Support. Advances for all new UC claimants are now available online / via phone, with no requirement to attend a job centre.</ins></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 31/03/2020 10:07:19 question first ministerially corrected 15/04/2020 14:58:09 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies previous answer version 15511 answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	400 label Biography information for John Healey

652776

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2016
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2016 to Question 55887, how many full-time equivalent members of staff his Department has employed to work on the design and implementation of universal credit in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14, (e) 2014-15 and (f) 2015-16.
	tabling member constituency	Oldham East and Saddleworth
	tabling member printed	Debbie Abrahams
	uin	56404
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2016 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">Data on reports of pension scams is collected via Action Fraud. However, the government, working with the City of London Police and other partners as part of Project Bloom, is aware that many scams in the UK, and the true extent of associated losses, go un-reported. The true extent of losses may also only become apparent some time after the initial report and increases in fraud reports could be due to a number of factors, for example increased industry reporting or rising awareness amongst the public due to high profile information campaigns.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">The Government takes the issue of pension scams very seriously, which is why, on 5 December 2016 we launched a public consultation on a package of measures aimed at tackling pension scams. This included a proposed definition of pension fraud to allow better monitoring and data collection on pension scams.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">The Government will continue to work closely with the City of London Police and other Project Bloom partners to help local forces and other agencies raise awareness on pension scams and encourage more people to report scamming activity and losses.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">The table below breaks down the location of the victim of reported pension scams collated by Action Fraud over the last two financial years.</del></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial"><strong>Location of victims of reported pension scams</strong></del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial"><strong>Financial year 2014/15</strong></del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial"><strong>Financial year 2015/16 to date </strong></del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Scotland</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">27</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">17</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Rest of the UK</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">921</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">446</del></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><ins class="ministerial">This information is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</ins></p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 12/12/2016 15:32:39 question first ministerially corrected 12/12/2016 16:11:12 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds previous answer version 25819 answering member constituency Watford answering member printed Richard Harrington answering member 4068
	tabling member	4212 label Biography information for Debbie Abrahams

758890

	registered interest
	date	07/09/2017
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people receiving tax credits who will be receiving universal credit at the completion of full service roll-out.
	tabling member constituency	Oldham East and Saddleworth
	tabling member printed	Debbie Abrahams
	uin	9616
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2017 answer text <p>Based on the existing tax credit data and take-up we estimate that around <del class="ministerial">5.8</del> <ins class="ministerial">3.8 </ins>million people receiving Tax Credits will be receiving Universal Credit at the completion of Full Service roll-out.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds previous answer version 11131 answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds 11369 answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds question first answered 13/09/2017 15:12:46 question first ministerially corrected 08/01/2018 20:43:49 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4212 label Biography information for Debbie Abrahams

947127

	registered interest
	date	23/07/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their plans to address payment errors and delays for people attempting to claim Universal Credit.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL9817
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/07/2018 answer text <p>Around 80 per cent of new claims are paid in full and on time. In many cases, where full payment is not made on time by the end of the first assessment period, this is as a result of unresolved issues such as: some claimants have not signed their Claimant Commitment or passed identity checks, and the others have outstanding verification issues, such as for housing and self-employed earnings. Whilst their verification is on-going, many of these claimants receive a part payment for those elements of the claim that have been resolved. Within five weeks of the payment due date, 95 per cent of claims are paid in full.</p><p>DWP continues to monitor payment timeliness and we have made changes to improve payment timeliness. For example, we have built processes into the system to make it easier and quicker for people to verify information such as their housing costs.</p><p> </p><p>Advances are available to provide financial support until the first payment and these can now be repaid over a course of 12 months and can consist of up to 100 per cent of the indicative monthly award. We have also abolished waiting days and now provide 2 weeks of housing support to claimants moving to Universal Credit from Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>If a claim has been delayed due to error, DWP can also consider awarding an ex-gratia payment, as set out in the guide of Financial Redress for Maladministration, available on gov.uk, and which is attached.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 31/07/2018 13:50:40 question first ministerially corrected 31/07/2018 14:41:10 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe attachment 1 file name HL9817 Financial Redress for Maladministration FR.PDF title Financial Redress for Maladministration previous answer version 72633 answering member printed Baroness Buscombe answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1000260

	registered interest
	date	02/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the taper that is applied to wages is not applied to pensions in relation to universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	187333
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>The taper is the rate at which Universal Credit is reduced to take account of earnings. It is specifically for in work claimants and linked to earnings to incentivise work, and those in work to earn more. Universal Credit has a single taper of 63 per cent so payments reduce in a transparent and predictable way as earnings increase. Universal Credit is a means tested benefit, and income other than earnings, such as pensions, is taken fully into account in the assessment of Universal Credit. This is consistent with how legacy means tested benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support treat pension income. Therefore it would not be consistent to extend the earnings taper to pensions income and doing so would also undermine the incentives to work for people of working age.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 12/11/2018 18:05:06 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1001921

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will set out the timeframe for implementing her Department's response to the court judgement of June 2018 on the payment of Severe Disability Premium to claimants who are already in receipt of Universal Credit.
	tabling member constituency	Croydon North
	tabling member printed	Mr Steve Reed
	uin	188119
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>Written statement HCWS745 on 7 June 2018 , which preceded the Court judgment of 14 June, set out our plans to make provision for claimants already in receipt of Universal Credit, to receive a Severe Disability Premium backdated.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The ‘Universal Credit (Managed Migration) Amendment Regulations 2018’, which contain these provisions, were laid in Parliament on 5 November 2018 and will now be scrutinised and voted on by Parliament.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 12/11/2018 18:08:45 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

1001922

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that a claimant will not receive less money in benefits as a result of moving to universal credit under the managed migration process.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	188120
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2018 answer text <p>Welfare claimants whose circumstances remain the same will not see their benefit entitlement reduced as a direct result of being moved on to Universal Credit through managed migration, as they will receive transitional protection. This will ensure that claimants who are managed migrated will have total entitlement to Universal Credit that is at least as great had been their total entitlement to existing benefits at the point they are migrated, so safeguarding their benefit entitlement until their circumstances change.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants whose entitlement is less in Universal Credit than their legacy entitlement will receive transitional protection to ensure their benefit allowance remains the same at the point of transition. The other claimants who are migrated onto Universal Credit as part of managed migration will receive the same or an increased entitlement as they receive on legacy benefits.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, we have announced that Tax Credits claimants with capital in excess of the £16,000 capital threshold will now receive a 12-month grace period during which they can receive transitional protection if eligible.</p><p> </p><p>We have also announced that, from 16 January 2019, we will prevent those claimants who are, or have been within the past month entitled to an award of an existing benefit that includes a Severe Disability Premium (SDP), from naturally migrating to Universal Credit following a change of circumstances. These claimants will continue to receive the relevant legacy benefit(s) appropriate to their change of circumstance and will only move to Universal Credit via managed migration (and therefore be eligible to transitional protection), safeguarding their existing benefit entitlement.</p><p> </p><p>We will also provide both an on-going monthly payment to eligible claimants who have already lost the SDP as a consequence of moving to Universal Credit and an additional monthly payment to cover the period since they moved. Eligibility for these payments will depend on a number of criteria being satisfied, which include whether the basic qualifying conditions for SDP continue to be met.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 16/11/2018 14:33:47 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

1002036

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many hours of training is planned to be given to her Department's decision-makers to identify people who may be vulnerable or have complex needs for the purposes of the universal credit managed migration.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
	tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
	uin	188159
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2019 answer text <p>All DWP staff working with customers complete training that prepares them for their role. This includes developing the skills they need to support and communicate with a diverse range of customers, and specific training is provided for working with different vulnerable groups.</p><p> </p><p>We are taking a slow, measured approach to managed migration and this will allow for on-going evaluation of the process to ensure that it is working successfully, which will enable us to refine our methods to support claimants.</p><p> </p><p>The revised draft regulations now before Parliament provide that we must give claimants a minimum of three months in which to make a claim for Universal Credit and sets no maximum period in which a claim must be made. With unlimited flexibility to extend claim periods we will work with representative groups to produce guidance that will ensure adequate support for each individual claimant’s needs.</p><p> </p><p>Decision makers and all our customer facing staff undertake learning related to supporting vulnerable claimants. Decision Makers receive 19.5 hours of training on dealing with vulnerable groups and line managers review whether there is a need to refresh the knowledge / learning with individuals where appropriate.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 07/01/2019 16:15:59 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1002123

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations she has received from (a) trades union and (b) the Trade Union Congress in relation to the managed migration of universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	188268
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>No meetings have been held by DWP with trade unions or the Trade Union Congress regarding Managed Migration specifically. However, the Trade Union Congress and some individual trade unions responded to the Social Security Advisory Committee report on the draft Universal Credit Managed Migration Regulations 2018, published on 5 November 2018 which can be accessed at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/draft-universal-credit-managed-migration-regulations-2018-ssac-report-and-government-statement" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/draft-universal-credit-managed-migration-regulations-2018-ssac-report-and-government-statement</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 188269 question first answered 10/12/2018 17:06:16 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 84616 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1002124

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish the meetings held by her Department (a) trades unions and (b) the Trade Union Congress on the managed migration of universal credit in 2018; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	188269
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>No meetings have been held by DWP with trade unions or the Trade Union Congress regarding Managed Migration specifically. However, the Trade Union Congress and some individual trade unions responded to the Social Security Advisory Committee report on the draft Universal Credit Managed Migration Regulations 2018, published on 5 November 2018 which can be accessed at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/draft-universal-credit-managed-migration-regulations-2018-ssac-report-and-government-statement" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/draft-universal-credit-managed-migration-regulations-2018-ssac-report-and-government-statement</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 188268 question first answered 10/12/2018 17:06:16 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 84617 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1002190

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many two week run-on payments for (a) job seekers allowance and (b) employment support allowance will claimants being migrated to universal credit receive in the five weeks following their universal credit claim; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	187990
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>As announced at Autumn Budget 2018, payment of Income Support and the income related elements of Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance will continue for two weeks after a claim for Universal Credit has been made, effective from July 2020, benefitting 1.1 million households. Claimants will therefore receive one two week run-on payment when being migrated to Universal Credit. This builds upon the similar two week run-on of Housing Benefit that was announced at Autumn Budget 2017, and which was introduced in April this year.</p><p> </p><p>New claimants to Universal Credit can also apply for a Universal Credit Advance in their first month if they need some financial support until the first regular payment of Universal Credit is made. We have previously increased the maximum amount available for advances from 50 per cent to 100 per cent of the total award, and increased the repayment period from 6 months to 12 months. The Autumn Budget 2018 also extended the recovery period to 16 months from October 2021, and, from October 2019 reduces the maximum rate at which deductions can be made from a Universal Credit award from 40% to 30% of the standard allowance.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 12/11/2018 17:58:17 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1002630

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to her oral contribution of 5 November 2018, Official Report, column 1261, how many such letters she has received; and if she will publish those letters after redacting identifying information.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
	tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
	uin	188895
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2018 answer text <p>The Department does not hold this information centrally on constituency correspondence.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 188896 question first answered 03/12/2018 11:34:55 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1002633

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to her oral contribution of 5 November 2018, Official Report, column 1260, what estimate she has made of the number of people that have been frightened to go into a jobcentre as a result of scare stories in (a) the UK, (b) the West Midlands and (c) Birmingham.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
	tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
	uin	188896
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2018 answer text <p>The Department does not hold this information centrally on constituency correspondence.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 188895 question first answered 03/12/2018 11:34:55 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1002640

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure the same claimant data sharing arrangements under universal support currently extended to local authorities will be extended to the Citizens Advice network when the delivery of that service moves to Citizens Advice in April 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Blaenau Gwent
	tabling member printed	Nick Smith
	uin	188790
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2018 answer text <p>Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland are designing their new service at present ready to begin delivery in April 2019, and that includes developing specifications to access the data that they need in order to deliver.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 16/11/2018 14:31:35 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith

1002684

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of claimants of universal credit that are paid every (a) four weeks, (b) two weeks and (c) every week.
	tabling member constituency	Bishop Auckland
	tabling member printed	Helen Goodman
	uin	188752
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>I refer the hon Member to question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-06-07/151086/" target="_blank">151086</a> anwered on 12 June 2018.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 12/11/2018 17:57:07 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	1484 label Biography information for Helen Goodman

1002759

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with representatives of staff working in job centres and service centres on difficulties experienced by such staff in (a) applying for and (b) receiving payment as claimants of universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	188874
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>My officials regularly meet with trade union representatives to discuss areas of concerns that staff may have.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 12/11/2018 17:51:28 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1002762

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what funding the Government has allocated for transitional payments for people moving onto universal credit; and by what process claimants will receive such payments.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	188877
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2018 answer text <p>We recently laid the draft Universal Credit (Managed Migration) Regulations 2018 in Parliament. These will introduce a transitional payment to those eligible claimants who were in receipt of the Severe Disability Premium whilst on an existing benefit and who have already moved to Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>As announced in the 2018 Autumn Budget, the income related elements of Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance, and Income Support will continue for two weeks after a claim for Universal Credit has been made from July 2020. Claimants will therefore receive one two week run-on payment when being migrated to Universal Credit. Both of these measures are subject to parliamentary approval. These payments are in addition to the 2 week run-on of Housing Benefit, which we introduced in April 2018.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also committed to ensuring that claimants who are moved onto Universal Credit as part of the managed migration process see no decrease in their benefit entitlement, providing their circumstances remain the same.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will be spending over £3bn on transitional protection over the next 10 years to ensure that claimants who are migrated onto Universal Credit as part of the managed migration process do not experience a financial loss at the point of transition.</p><p> </p><p>Transitional protection will be calculated based on the claimant’s circumstances on the last day of their entitlement to existing benefits. To do this we will make a comparison between the total amount of all relevant existing benefits to which the claimant was entitled at this point and the total amount of Universal Credit to which the claimant would be entitled as calculated based on the same set of circumstances. If the entitlement to the existing benefits is the greater amount then the difference will be awarded as a Transitional Element. When awarded, this Transitional Element will be taken into account with any other applicable Elements to determine a claimant’s Universal Credit award in each Assessment Period.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 13/12/2018 14:37:05 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 84612 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1003602

	registered interest
	date	09/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations she has received from the public on universal credit; and how many of those representations were (a) positive and (b) negative of its introduction.
	tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
	tabling member printed	Justin Madders
	uin	189728
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 19/11/2018 11:49:27 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

1003675

	registered interest
	date	09/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much funding her Departments has allocated to universal credit hardship payments.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	189735
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>As Universal Credit hardship payments are included in Annually Managed Expenditure there is no separate funding allocated to them.</p><p> </p><p>The information requested about the number of claims to hardship in the Glasgow South constituency is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 189736 question first answered 19/11/2018 13:39:50 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1003711

	registered interest
	date	09/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance her Department has issued to decision makers on closing claims for universal credit for non-attendance at appointments in relation to the (a) welfare and (b) safeguarding of children whose subsistence income needs are dependent on that claim.
	tabling member constituency	North West Durham
	tabling member printed	Laura Pidcock
	uin	189806
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2018 answer text <p>Comprehensive guidance outlining the reasons to consider before closing a Universal Credit claim are available to all staff across the Jobcentre network. Universal Credit guidance is published in the House of Commons library and the Department is committed to refreshing this at regular intervals.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 14/11/2018 17:49:19 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4665 label Biography information for Laura Pidcock

1003712

	registered interest
	date	09/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish the guidance his Department has issued to jobcentre staff on the (a) evidence requirements for verifying capital for universal credit and (b) viewing of mobile banking on a claimant's mobile device.
	tabling member constituency	North West Durham
	tabling member printed	Laura Pidcock
	uin	189807
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2018 answer text <p>Guidance that the Department has issued to staff on the evidence requirements for verifying capital for Universal Credit is in the House of Commons Library.</p><p> </p><p>No guidance has been issued for viewing banking details on a claimant’s mobile device. It is the claimant’s responsibility to provide the correct information about their banking details.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 14/11/2018 17:37:13 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4665 label Biography information for Laura Pidcock

1003713

	registered interest
	date	09/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have moved on to universal credit during the natural migration phase without having a specific change of circumstance that would require a new claim for a legacy benefit.
	tabling member constituency	North West Durham
	tabling member printed	Laura Pidcock
	uin	189808
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2018 answer text <p>Claimants only move from existing benefits to Universal Credit through natural migration when they experience a significant change in their circumstances that triggers a new claim to benefit. Their entitlement is then calculated on the rules of their new benefit.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 14/11/2018 17:42:11 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4665 label Biography information for Laura Pidcock

1003714

	registered interest
	date	09/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of claimants moved from legacy benefits onto universal credit during the natural migration phase that are entitled to less monthly benefit on universal credit than the legacy benefits.
	tabling member constituency	North West Durham
	tabling member printed	Laura Pidcock
	uin	189809
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>Claimants only move from existing benefits to Universal Credit through natural migration when they experience a significant change in their circumstances that triggers a new claim to benefit. Their entitlement is then calculated on the rules of their new benefit.</p><p>We are therefore unable to estimate whether their entitlement would be different under Universal Credit compared to legacy benefits.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 19/11/2018 17:30:56 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4665 label Biography information for Laura Pidcock

100520

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent on short term benefit advances for claimants of universal credit in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 to date.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	211598
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>Short Term Benefit Advances (STBA) are only available against legacy benefits. Universal Credit has it's own system of benefit advances. The equivalent support to STBA is provided by either the Universal Credit (new claim) advance or the Universal Credit (change of circumstance) advance.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Currently these costs are not reported separately. UC benefit expenditure is published in the table in the attached link</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2014" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2014</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 29/10/2014 17:40:28 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

100528

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the approved July 2011 business case for universal credit referred to on page 32 of his Department's publication, Universal Credit at Work, published in October 2014, was approved by (a) the Major Projects Authority and (b) HM Treasury; and whether that business case was a strategic outline business case or a full business case.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds West
	tabling member printed	Rachel Reeves
	uin	211588
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p>HM Treasury approved the Universal Credit Strategic Outline Business Case in July 2011 and an updated business case in September 2014, as referred to on page 32 of the publication ‘Universal Credit at Work’. HM Treasury are the sole approval authority for Departmental business cases.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 30/10/2014 14:10:31 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper previous answer version 24592 answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	4031 label Biography information for Rachel Reeves

100534

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have been allowed backdated universal credit claims to date.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	211595
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 answer text <p>The information you have requested is not currently available. The Department published its strategy for releasing official statistics on Universal Credit in September 2013 which can be found at:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>These statistics however will be published in accordance with the relevant protocols in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As outlined in the strategy, officials are currently quality assuring data for Universal Credit, therefore it is not yet possible to give a definitive list of what statistics will be provided in the future.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 28/10/2014 15:00:39 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

100536

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people claiming universal credit have accessed short term benefit advances to date.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	211597
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>Short Term Benefit Advances (STBA) are only available against legacy benefits. Universal Credit has its own system of benefit advances. The equivalent support to STBA is provided by either the Universal Credit (new claim) advance or the Universal Credit (change of circumstance) advance.</p><p> </p><p>The information you have requested is not currently available. The Department published its strategy for releasing official statistics on Universal Credit in September 2013 which can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics</a></p><p> </p><p>These statistics however will be published in accordance with the relevant protocols in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.</p><p>As outlined in the strategy, officials are currently quality assuring data for Universal Credit, therefore it is not yet possible to give a definitive list of what statistics will be provided in the future.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 29/10/2014 17:50:01 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1005586

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of people who are yet to be moved to Universal Credit as part of the natural migration process; and what support will be available for vulnerable claimants, including those who have disabilities, during this process.
	tabling member printed	Lord Bird
	uin	HL11357
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>We are unable to forecast the number of people who are yet to naturally migrate to Universal Credit. This is because Natural Migration claimants are those who have had a relevant change of circumstances that would cause a new claim to be made to a different legacy benefit, but they cannot make such a claim to legacy benefits because these have been replaced by UC.</p><p> </p><p>We take seriously the need to support vulnerable claimants moving to Universal Credit. Work Coaches provide continuous support for all claimants, including vulnerable claimants throughout their journey.</p><p>Additionally we have introduced a number of measures to assist claimants during the transition to Universal Credit including: the removal of waiting days; the UC Transitional Housing payment; Universal Support; 100 per cent advances and a longer repayment period.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 26/11/2018 15:21:39 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	4564 label Biography information for Lord Bird

1005731

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of universal credit on levels of rent arrears.
	tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
	tabling member printed	Emma Reynolds
	uin	190455
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2018 answer text <p>I refer the hon Member to the reply to Question 181577 on 29 October.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 15/11/2018 17:09:29 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds

1005734

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to universal credit, what estimate she has made of the (a) proportion of claimants who apply for an advanced payment that are successful, (b) number of claimants who seek a deferred payment of three months when repaying an advanced payment and (c) proportion of claimants who receive an advanced payment and apply successfully for a deferred payment.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	190525
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2018 answer text <p>I refer the hon Member to the reply to Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-10-08/176262/" target="_blank">176262</a> on 11 October.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 15/11/2018 15:46:06 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1005736

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish the guidance issued by her Department on the thresholds for (a) financial hardship when a universal credit claimant applies for an advanced payment and (b) exceptional circumstances when a universal credit claimant with an advance payment applies for repayments to be delayed for up to three months.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	190526
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2018 answer text <p>Universal Credit guidance is published in the House of Commons Library and the Department is committed to refreshing the information on a regular basis.</p><p>New claimants to Universal Credit have always been able to apply for a Universal Credit Advance in their first month if they need financial support until their first regular payment of Universal Credit is made.</p><p>We have previously increased the maximum amount available for advances from 50 per cent to 100 per cent of the total award, and increased the repayment period from 6 months to 12 months. Last month’s Autumn Budget 2018 extended - from October 2021 - the maximum period over which an advance can be recovered, from 12 to 16 months. From October 2019, we will also reduce the maximum rate at which deductions can be made from a Universal Credit award from 40% to 30% of the standard allowance</p><p>If during the recovery of an advance the claimant experiences an unforeseen expense that would cause them or their family genuine hardship if they were required to continue to repay the advance, then they can be offered a deferral period of the repayment of the advance of up to 3 months for a new claim, benefit transfer or change of circumstance advance and up to 6 months for a budgeting advance.</p><p>In addition Personal Budgeting Support (PBS) is also offered to Universal Credit claimants from the outset of their claim. PBS helps claimants as they transition to Universal Credit and adapt to the financial changes that Universal Credit brings. PBS can be online, telephone or face to face support. Face to face support is currently delivered through local authorities via Universal Support.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 15/11/2018 15:59:17 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1005737

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what tendering process was used to commission Citizens Advice to provide Universal Support from April 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
	tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
	uin	190527
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2018 answer text <p>Citizens Advice (CA) and Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) were given a direct grant award for the full delivery of a Universal Support service for 12 months from April 2019 (while developing their service alongside Local Authorities up to 31 March 2019). A delivery review point is built into the Grant Agreement, at which point we will consider how the service is operating. The decision to award directly to CA and CAS is based on their position as a well-known and independent advice organisation. This partnership will ensure we are offering a consistent approach nationally for our most vulnerable customers.</p><p> </p><p>Grant funding for the delivery of Universal Support by Local Authorities will cease from April 2019, as will their obligation to deliver the service. CA and CAS are committed to providing a Universal Support service across all areas of England, Wales and Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>In taking the decision to award the grant to CA and CAS due regard was paid to the Department’s obligations.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 190528 190529 190530 190531 question first answered 15/11/2018 17:07:39 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1005738

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will place in the Library a copy of the methodology for selecting Citizens Advice to provide Universal Support.
	tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
	tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
	uin	190528
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2018 answer text <p>Citizens Advice (CA) and Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) were given a direct grant award for the full delivery of a Universal Support service for 12 months from April 2019 (while developing their service alongside Local Authorities up to 31 March 2019). A delivery review point is built into the Grant Agreement, at which point we will consider how the service is operating. The decision to award directly to CA and CAS is based on their position as a well-known and independent advice organisation. This partnership will ensure we are offering a consistent approach nationally for our most vulnerable customers.</p><p> </p><p>Grant funding for the delivery of Universal Support by Local Authorities will cease from April 2019, as will their obligation to deliver the service. CA and CAS are committed to providing a Universal Support service across all areas of England, Wales and Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>In taking the decision to award the grant to CA and CAS due regard was paid to the Department’s obligations.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 190527 190529 190530 190531 question first answered 15/11/2018 17:07:39 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1005739

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the transfer of provision of Universal Support to Citizens Advice on (a) local authority costs for providing and (b) local availability of Universal Support after April 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
	tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
	uin	190529
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2018 answer text <p>Citizens Advice (CA) and Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) were given a direct grant award for the full delivery of a Universal Support service for 12 months from April 2019 (while developing their service alongside Local Authorities up to 31 March 2019). A delivery review point is built into the Grant Agreement, at which point we will consider how the service is operating. The decision to award directly to CA and CAS is based on their position as a well-known and independent advice organisation. This partnership will ensure we are offering a consistent approach nationally for our most vulnerable customers.</p><p> </p><p>Grant funding for the delivery of Universal Support by Local Authorities will cease from April 2019, as will their obligation to deliver the service. CA and CAS are committed to providing a Universal Support service across all areas of England, Wales and Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>In taking the decision to award the grant to CA and CAS due regard was paid to the Department’s obligations.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 190527 190528 190530 190531 question first answered 15/11/2018 17:07:40 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1005740

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department carried out an equalities impact assessment on the transfer of the delivery of Universal Support from local authorities to Citizens Advice.
	tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
	tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
	uin	190530
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2018 answer text <p>Citizens Advice (CA) and Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) were given a direct grant award for the full delivery of a Universal Support service for 12 months from April 2019 (while developing their service alongside Local Authorities up to 31 March 2019). A delivery review point is built into the Grant Agreement, at which point we will consider how the service is operating. The decision to award directly to CA and CAS is based on their position as a well-known and independent advice organisation. This partnership will ensure we are offering a consistent approach nationally for our most vulnerable customers.</p><p> </p><p>Grant funding for the delivery of Universal Support by Local Authorities will cease from April 2019, as will their obligation to deliver the service. CA and CAS are committed to providing a Universal Support service across all areas of England, Wales and Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>In taking the decision to award the grant to CA and CAS due regard was paid to the Department’s obligations.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 190527 190528 190529 190531 question first answered 15/11/2018 17:07:40 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1005741

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the extent of geographical coverage provided by Citizens Advice for the delivery of Universal Support; and what progress Citizens Advice has made on plans to deliver Universal Support in areas with no local Citizens Advice service.
	tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
	tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
	uin	190531
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2018 answer text <p>Citizens Advice (CA) and Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) were given a direct grant award for the full delivery of a Universal Support service for 12 months from April 2019 (while developing their service alongside Local Authorities up to 31 March 2019). A delivery review point is built into the Grant Agreement, at which point we will consider how the service is operating. The decision to award directly to CA and CAS is based on their position as a well-known and independent advice organisation. This partnership will ensure we are offering a consistent approach nationally for our most vulnerable customers.</p><p> </p><p>Grant funding for the delivery of Universal Support by Local Authorities will cease from April 2019, as will their obligation to deliver the service. CA and CAS are committed to providing a Universal Support service across all areas of England, Wales and Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>In taking the decision to award the grant to CA and CAS due regard was paid to the Department’s obligations.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 190527 190528 190529 190530 question first answered 15/11/2018 17:07:40 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1005887

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect on (a) the Post Office and (b) Postmaster pay of encouraging universal credit claimants to use a bank account to receive payments.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	190494
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2018 answer text <p>The majority of claimants have their benefits paid into a bank account. As most bank accounts can be accessed at the Post Office, most claimants are able to withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, and make balance enquiries at a Post Office counter via its network of 11,600 branches. Sub-postmasters will continue to receive revenue from those transactions while maintaining footfall.</p><p> </p><p>In line with our wider policy on financial inclusion, we have always made it clear that payment into a bank, building society or credit union is the preferred way for Universal Credit to be paid. This reflects the vision for Universal Credit mirroring the world of work, where, for example, an employer requires a bank account for a salary to be paid into.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 15/11/2018 16:16:25 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1005997

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations she has received about the effect on vulnerable people and those with mental health conditions of joint claims for Universal Credit which are paid to one person in the family.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	190888
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2018 answer text <p>We recognise that the move to a single monthly household payment is a significant change and therefore for a minority of claimants, alternative payment arrangements can be provided to help them manage that change. These include: managed payment of the Universal Credit housing cost to landlords; making payments more frequently than monthly (e.g. twice monthly); and splitting the payment between partners within the household.</p><p> </p><p>Splitting payments between partners is normally considered to prevent hardship to a claimant and their family, for example if the Universal Credit claimant is not managing their financial affairs and cannot or will not budget for their own or their family’s basic day to day needs.</p><p> </p><p>We take seriously the need to support vulnerable claimants. Universal Credit provides enhanced personalised support for people by simplifying the benefits system. All claimants, including vulnerable claimants and those with mental health conditions, receive continuous tailored support managed through personal work coaches, who know each person’s case.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally we can offer Personal Budgeting Support which aims to prepare claimants for the financial changes Universal Credit brings. It provides transitional support to help them manage their monthly payments and prioritise essential bills, such as rent and utilities.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 21/11/2018 16:23:24 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1006001

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what is the legal basis for her Department's guidance stating that universal credit claims should be closed one day after a claimant fails to attend a claimant commitment appointment.
	tabling member constituency	North West Durham
	tabling member printed	Laura Pidcock
	uin	190937
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>The Welfare Reform Act 2012, Section 4(1) (e), states that it is a condition of entitlement to Universal Credit that a claimant accepts a Claimant Commitment.</p><p>Where a claimant has failed to attend an interview for the purposes of accepting a Claimant Commitment, their claim will be closed. We will notify the claimant that their claim has been closed and that they can phone or write to the Department to ask us to explain our decision and/or if they disagree with the decision, to ask us to look at the decision again.</p><p>After the Department has looked at decisions again, there is a process known as Mandatory Reconsideration which is where an application for revision of a Universal Credit decision is considered by a Decision Maker. If claimants still disagree with the outcome they can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.</p><p>Should there be any indication that the claimant is vulnerable we will seek to understand why the claimant failed to attend, and to explain the consequences of not re-engaging immediately. We will seek to make contact with the claimant and give them the opportunity to show good reason for non-attendance.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 19/11/2018 18:11:32 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4665 label Biography information for Laura Pidcock

1006002

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether posting a decision notice to close a claim for universal credit on an online journal to which the claimant no longer has access is consistent with the requirements of Regulations 7 and 51 of the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker's Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 2013 on notifying claimants about decisions.
	tabling member constituency	North West Durham
	tabling member printed	Laura Pidcock
	uin	190938
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>Claimants do have access to their journal after their Universal Credit award is terminated. It is read-access only but that does mean they can read the decision notice which explains that their award has been terminated and how the decision can be disputed under regulation 7. Posting the notice to the journal does comply with regulation 51 as in law it is still a “written notice of the decision”.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 19/11/2018 13:37:24 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4665 label Biography information for Laura Pidcock

1006051

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the proportion of new claims for universal credit that were paid in full and on time which contain the (a) standard allowance only, (b) carer element, (c) child element, (d) childcare element, (e) disabled child element, (f) housing element and (g) limited capability for work element.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral West
	tabling member printed	Margaret Greenwood
	uin	190903
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>We are currently assessing this data and will release information once the necessary quality assurance work has taken place. These statistics will be published in accordance with the relevant protocols in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 190905 question first answered 19/11/2018 17:20:40 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4400 label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood

1006052

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Government plans to publish its internal review of universal support.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral West
	tabling member printed	Margaret Greenwood
	uin	190904
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>The Work and Pensions Select Committee recently published its report on Universal Support. As part of this it recommends that the Department sets out the conclusions of its internal review and we will respond to the Committee’s recommendations in due course.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 20/11/2018 15:38:50 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 85881 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4400 label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood

1006054

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the proportion of claims for universal credit that received a portion of the initial payment on time which contain the (a) the standard allowance, (b) carer element, (c) child element, (d) childcare element, (e) disabled child element, (f) housing element and (g) limited capability for work element.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral West
	tabling member printed	Margaret Greenwood
	uin	190905
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>We are currently assessing this data and will release information once the necessary quality assurance work has taken place. These statistics will be published in accordance with the relevant protocols in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 190903 question first answered 19/11/2018 17:20:40 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4400 label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood

1006055

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of new claimants of universal credit (a) requested and (b) received a new claim advance in each month from 31 December 2017 to the most recent month for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral West
	tabling member printed	Margaret Greenwood
	uin	190906
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>Around 60% of eligible new claims received an advance in October 2018. Subject to some fluctuation, this has been broadly consistent for every month for which the data has been requested.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 19/11/2018 12:35:00 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4400 label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood

1006058

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average monthly deduction to universal credit to repay debt was in the most recent year for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral West
	tabling member printed	Margaret Greenwood
	uin	190907
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>The information is not readily available. This is because we cannot readily separate out debt from the total for deductions in Universal Credit. As a result, to provide this data would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 19/11/2018 17:21:59 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4400 label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood

1006143

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit cases were deleted in error; and what the time taken was for those cases to be rebuilt in the most recent 12 months for which data are available.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	190789
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>It is not possible for a claimant or for front-line operational staff to delete a Universal Credit case in error.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 19/11/2018 17:26:15 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1006190

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has a target timescale for processing the mandatory reconsiderations of its decisions on the eligibility of people for universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Nottingham South
	tabling member printed	Lilian Greenwood
	uin	190864
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>The Department has no targets for processing a mandatory reconsideration. Our focus is on ensuring the decision is correct. The time necessary to do this can depend on the circumstances of the case.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not administer appeals, which is the responsibility of HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 190865 question first answered 19/11/2018 13:48:01 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4029 label Biography information for Lilian Greenwood

1006211

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases relating to universal credit have been referred to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	190820
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2018 answer text <p>The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is independent of Government, therefore we do not hold this information.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 21/11/2018 16:22:07 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell